Editorials

The Student Council survey distributed this week contains a question which is of existential importance for the Daily Gazette: whether it will be allowed to continue its opt-out policy for students on its mailing list, or be forced to change to an opt-in policy. We feel that an opt-in policy would be greatly detrimental to both the quality of the Gazette and to the community as a whole.

We, the graduating senior editors of the Gazette — Ramya Gopal, Jack Keefe, and Urooj Khan — are taking this opportunity in the last issue of the semester to bid our e-farewells to all the folks (both e- and real alike) who’ve contributed to making the Gazette community what it is, and, in turn, to reflect.

“Three Days in Palestine” has brought an incredibly important issue to the forefront of students’ minds at Swarthmore: namely, the difficulty of balancing a state’s legitimate security concerns with the vital work of ensuring universal human dignity and rights, and perhaps more importantly, the ways in which the system of Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank, as well as its security barrier, may often fail to strike the proper balance.

We, the Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine (SPJP), are kicking-off a series of events entitled Three Days in Palestine. We hope to bring to the attention of the campus some of the gross injustices that Palestinians live with on a daily basis, and which are the policies of the Israeli government.

Three feet of snow blankets Philly? The Saints win the Super Bowl? What in the name of heaven is going on? It must be that time of year again, when we fulfill the sacred commandment to make fools of ourselves. It’s the Jews’ answer to Mardi Gras, it’s Purim!

After intense editorial discussion, the Daily Gazette has decided to modify its comments policy. We have begun to worry that too many individuals are abusing our policy to write irrelevant and destructive posts.

The second candidate for Dean of Students will be speaking at Swarthmore tonight. We encourage you to attend, because you will not be able to read our coverage of the event. The administration has forbidden the student press, including the Gazette and Phoenix, from reporting on the candidates for Dean of Student’s chats with students.

The Student Financial Advisory Panel (SFAP) was formed in the Fall of 2009 to increase dialogue between students and the administration on matters of the Ad Hoc Financial Planning Group. SFAP has worked to gather student concerns on the recent budget recommendations through a series of forums and meetings held throughout the semester, and will present to the Board of Managers this Friday.

I know that, in Swarthmore time, the Fall LSE was a long time ago. To bring it up again now might seem odd. But I believe that the point I have to make is worth dredging up this ancient history. Comedian James Smith’s act was homophobic, racist, and extremely misogynistic.

College Vice President Maurice Eldridge sent an email Monday on behalf of Earthlust urging students and faculty to consider fasting during the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. While Earthlust is certainly entitled to its opinions, it is not entitled to spamming the entire campus with its frivolous and peculiar impulses.